Disarming Leviathan Podcast

Matthew D. Taylor stops by the pod to discuss the recent rise of independent charismatic leaders promoting American Christian Nationalism. Matt helps us understand some of the movement’s more prominent […] The post The Rise of Charismatic Christian Nationalism w/ Matthew D. Taylor first appeared on Disarming Leviathan . Get full access to Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.subst...

This is a rerelease of an earlier episode. Stay tuned to the Disarming Leviathan Podcast. New Episodes coming in a few weeks! Get full access to Disarming Leviathan: Missionary to Christian Nationalists at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe Dr. Katharine Hayhoe shares her experience as a climate scientist and gives some practical coaching on how we can cultivate healthy conversations with f...

This is a rerelease of an earlier episode. Stay tuned to the Disarming Leviathan Podcast. New Episodes coming in a few weeks! Get full access to Disarming Leviathan: Missionary to Christian Nationalists at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe — Pastor and author David Swanson joins us for a discussion about the ways that racism, tribalism, and nationalism are impacting the American Church, an...

This is a rerelease of an earlier episode. Stay tuned to the Disarming Leviathan Podcast. New Episodes coming in a few weeks! Get full access to Disarming Leviathan: Missionary to Christian Nationalists at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe Pastor Steve Bezner joins us to discuss how American culture has influenced the American Church's view of Jesus. We explore some of the distorted views...

This is a rerelease of an earlier episode. Stay tuned to the Disarming Leviathan Podcast. New Episodes coming in a few weeks! Get full access to Disarming Leviathan: Missionary to Christian Nationalists at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe — Bible scholar Dr. Timothy Gombis joins Caleb for an exploration of the themes of power and government in the New Testament and how they can shape our...

This is a rerelease of an earlier episode. Stay tuned to the Disarming Leviathan Podcast. New Episodes coming in a few weeks! Get full access to Disarming Leviathan: Missionary to Christian Nationalists at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe — Dr. Dennis Edwards guides us in exploring how the New Testament can shape our understanding of and engagement in politics today. More about Dr. Dennis...

This is a rerelease of an earlier episode featuring Tim Alberta. Stay tuned to the Disarming Leviathan Podcast. New Episodes coming in a few weeks! Get full access to Disarming Leviathan: Missionary to Christian Nationalists at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe Get full access to Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe

Hey friends, I hope you’re having a great summer. I wanted to take a moment to share a quick update on both the Disarming Leviathan podcast and the broader ministry. Podcast Update First, the podcast. I’m pretty much doing this on my own — no production team, no fancy strategy. If we did have seasons, I think we’d be wrapping up either our second or third season right about now. The way I’ve struc...

Political theorist Laurie Johnson joins Caleb Campbell to unpack the deeper forces driving America’s culture wars and ideological divisions. Drawing from her book The Gap in God's Country , Laurie shares her own political and spiritual journey—from Fox News conservative to a more reflective and empathetic posture—exploring how economic upheaval, social dislocation, and a loss of place have fostere...

In this episode of Disarming Leviathan , death penalty scholar and former prosecutor Corinna Lain joins Caleb to discuss her groundbreaking book Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection . With a blend of research and personal reflection, Lain uncovers the history, flawed protocols, and moral implications of lethal injection as America’s primary method of execution. From t...

In this episode of the Disarming Leviathan podcast, Caleb Campbell talks with John Thielepape, a pastor and community leader from North Texas who now works with the Multifaith Neighbors Network and LocalNet. John shares how his team is helping churches and local institutions respond to political polarization, extremism, and social fragmentation. Drawing from his experience managing a community res...

In a time when influence is currency and spiritual leaders are often shaped by worldly ambition, Kyle Strobel invites us to consider a different path: the cruciform way of the Lamb. Drawing from his book The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb and years of spiritual, theological reflection, Kyle explores how Christian leaders are tempted to use manipulative, domineering, and even demonic form...

Episode note: Apologies for the sound quality. We had some technical difficulties and recorded this on a sub-par recording platform (the free kind ;-) Huge thanks to Chris for being so gracious and adjusting to make this interview happen! In this compelling conversation, Old Testament scholar and missiologist Christopher J. H. Wright unpacks the Bible’s warnings about idolatry—especially its polit...

In this episode, Old Testament scholar Tremper Longman III joins the show to unpack how Scripture can shape our public and political imagination without succumbing to partisanship or Christian nationalism. Drawing on decades of biblical scholarship, Longman explores how the Bible offers moral and theological wisdom—not direct public policy—guiding Christians toward faithful engagement in a plurali...

Special Episode! In early 2025, Pastor Gary Mason visited Phoenix for a conference. Caleb joined Lisa Jernigan and Vermon Pierre for a conversation with Gary about his experience pastoring during the Irish Troubles. This discussion weaves together global insights and local applications for fostering Jesus-centered reconciliation. Together, they reflect on how faith communities can become catalysts...

In this episode, pastor and theologian David Fitch joins Caleb Campbell to explore the nature of power from a biblical perspective. Drawing from his book Reckoning with Power , Fitch outlines the distinction between worldly power—marked by coercion and control—and godly power—defined by presence, mutuality, and love. With insight drawn from scripture, history, and modern-day examples, he challenge...

In this episode, Caleb Campbell sits down with Dr. Matthew Boedy to explore the roots, evolution, and rising influence of the Seven Mountains Mandate—a strategic framework behind modern Christian nationalism. Based on his new book, The Seven Mountains Mandate: Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy , Boedy unpacks how the movement aims to control key spheres of c...

In this episode of Disarming Leviathan , Caleb Campbell speaks with Holly Berkley Fletcher about her journey from missionary kid in Kenya to CIA analyst to outspoken critic of Christian nationalism. Holly reflects on her evangelical upbringing, her experiences with authoritarian regimes, and how the language of faith is often weaponized to serve political power. The conversation dives into her per...

Podcast Episode Description: In this episode of Disarming Leviathan , Caleb Campbell talks with Todd Wilson about his reflections on C.S. Lewis’s political thought. Todd shares how his long-standing interest in Lewis, combined with a background in politics and pastoral ministry, led him to explore Lewis’s views on democracy, hierarchy, and human nature. Together, they discuss how Lewis’s writing—r...

American boys and men are struggling. Journalist, pastor, and mom Angela Denker joins us to discuss her new book Disciples of White Jesus and the forces shaping the hearts, minds, and identities of young men in America today. From Christian nationalism to isolation and loneliness, Denker helps us trace both the radicalization and the redemption stories unfolding in churches, schools, and homes acr...

In this episode, New Testament scholar Nijay Gupta joins us for a thought-provoking conversation on how the early church encountered and interacted with political power. Drawing from historical context and biblical insight, Nijay helps us explore how the first Christians navigated empire, authority, and allegiance—and what their example might mean for the church today. About Nijay ​Dr. Nijay K. Gu...

Scholar and author Scot McKnight joins us to discuss how scripture can help us discern the differences between the power of empire and the power of Jesus. More About Scot Scot McKnight is professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and a recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the author of more than ninety books, including the award-winni...

Russell Moore joins us for a conversation about the state of American Evangelicalism and its drift into a movement of tribalism, combativeness, and culture wars. About Russell Russell Moore is Editor in Chief of Christianity Today and is the author of Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America (Penguin Random House). The Wall Street Journal has called Moore “vigorous, cheerful, and...

Mike Bird joins us for a discussion about the early church’s understanding of and interaction with empire. More About Mike Michael grew up in Brisbane before joining the Army and serving as a paratrooper, intelligence operator, and then chaplain’s assistant. It was during his time in the military that he came to faith from a non-Christian background, and soon after felt a call to ministry. He grad...

Skye Jethani joins us for a discussion about how the teachings an example of Jesus can shape our understanding of justice today. About Skye An award-winning author, speaker, and co-host of the Holy Post Podcast, Skye has written more than a dozen books and served as an editor and executive at Christianity Today for more than a decade. Raised in a religiously and ethnically diverse family, his curi...